Dr Rudolph "Rudy" Daniels

Sioux City, IA – Dr. Rudolph “Rudy” Daniels III, 77, died Friday, October 28, 2022, at his residence in Sioux City, IA.

Services have already taken place. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.christysmith.com

Rudolph L. “Rudy” Daniels III, the son of Rudolph II and Victoria (Villani) Daniels was born July 7, 1945, in Trenton, NJ. He received his BA in History from St. Francis University in Loretto, PA and went on to earn a PhD in Russian and Soviet Studies from Penn State University in 1971.

Rudy began his teaching career in Dubuque, IA where he taught Russian Studies at Loras College, Clark College, and Dubuque University. He taught English and French at a gymnasium in West Germany. In 1975, Rudy joined the Department of History and Political Science at Morningside University in Sioux City. During his twenty-year career, he taught History, Geography, Wood Winds, and Music Literature classes. Rudy was awarded Faculty Person of the Year in 1985.

Rudy moved to Western Iowa Tech Community College in 1996. He served as Department Chair of Social and Behavioral Sciences and taught History and courses in Railroad Operations Technology. From 1997 to 2002, he served as Assistant Dean for Special Projects. Rudy retired from Western Iowa Tech in 2002. He then served as a full-time Law Enforcement Planner for the Sioux City Police Department from 2004 to 2011.

Rudy was a member of Mater Dei Parish-Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and served as an usher there for decades. He also was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and belonged to the Rotary Club. Rudy played and taught oboe and performed with the Sioux City Symphony. He also enjoyed collecting classic records.

Rudy was a frequent guest speaker at the Sioux City Public Museum, The Betty Strong Encounter Center in Sioux City, The James H. Andrew Railroad Museum and History Center in Boone, IA, and The Public Library in South Sioux City, NE, many of these funded by Humanities Iowa.

Rudy’s friends were his family, and his friends considered him family. He was a social person, including having friends over to have his “secret” pasta, being a regular at Minerva’s, and going to the Dinner Train and acting as their unofficial photographer. He would do anything for people, including travelling to Colorado to serve as the photographer at a friend’s wedding.